Start will any bar soap. I like to use Dove because it’s a better quality that will lead to a smooth and creamy wash. I use a knife to chop up the soap (some people use a grater but I find that tedious, and if you chop in the right direction the soap will crumb into flakes. Add the flakes into a LARGE pot of boiling water (I made the mistake of using too small of a pot and experienced an overflow- see below!)

Proportions = ~2 cups of water for every 1 bar of soap (this is for the regular Dove bar soap, if using a larger bar make sure you add a little extra water)

It will froth up as you stir in the soap, but keep stirring until it is nicely dissolved.

Once everything is added and the soap is dissolved, you will have a nice creamy mixture (again, make sure you use a big enough pot!). Turn off the heat and let the mixture sit until cool. This will take hours! I typically make soap in the evening and let it sit overnight to cool. NOTE: It will thicken as it cools so if it is not “body wash” thick when you turn off the heat don’t worry. After it is cool, you can add fragrance or essential oils (I used a cucumber melon fragrance for this batch). Then fill empty bottles and enjoy a rich lather the next time you shower, for a fraction of the cost!

My husband is in love with a crappy little Teriyaki House restaurant in a small local town here in Northern CA. I personally think the food there is revolting. So, I came to the conclusion that I would have to start making an awesome teriyaki stir fry at home to please both him and me. I discovered this little gem of a marinade and sauce…Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki. Best discovery ever!

I buy pre-cut “stir fry beef” at the store (1 lb.) so it’s easy to cook after a long day at work. I throw the beef in a bowl with about 1/4 c of the Veri Veri Teriyaki and let it sit for about 30 min. This gives me enough time to take the dog for a walk and pre-cut all of the veggies. I put some jasmine rice in the cooker and start heating a pan. Stir-fry only takes about 5-10 minutes to cook so plan accordingly.

Cook the beef thoroughly and remove. Add veggies and cook until tender. I use whatever veggies I have at home, so tonight’s dinner consisted of onions, carrots, green peppers, and bamboo shoots. Add the beef back in and a little more Veri Veri Teriyaki (about 3 tablespoons).

Plate over the jasmine rice and top with chopped green onion. Don’t even worry about presentation; it’ll be gone in an instant.

Use Soy Vay for everything! Beef, Chicken, Salmon, or just over plain rice.

I have had THREE Lasik consultations with different doctors in the Sacramento area. All with differing opinions and practices. I chose the most conservative doctor I could find who stressed that I should not have Lasik eye surgery, however choose PRK because of my particular situation. I have my surgery scheduled on June 26…that’s less than 2 weeks! I am so nervous but I cannot wait.

Why I chose to have the surgery?

Many reasons actually. Wearing glasses and/or contacts is an inconvenience and daily commitment. I cannot sleep with any type of contacts (even the ones that say it’s ok to sleep in) and I cannot wear glasses for most of the activities I enjoy (anything done in sunny CA requires sunglasses). I have never had the luxury of being able to “get up and go”.

This is also a money saver! After a lot of crunching numbers, estimated an average of 10 solid years of uncorrected vision (after surgery, this is the norm) I would be saving almost $4,000 on contacts, solution, and prescription upgrades.

Taking these two main reasons into consideration, and the added bonus of being able to just fall asleep on the couch for a mid-afternoon nap without having to take out contacts and roll over and crush my frames (it’s happened), I decided to just do it!

If you are in or near the Sacramento area and are interested in the specific Doctors I visited, feel free to contact me.

My new favorite eye shadow pallet has crossed the boundary of “smokey and seductive” to everyday use. Using subtle tones, like Fuzzy Handcuffs and Satin Sheets, you can create an everyday look without the drama.

While shopping around online I saw a link that said “Kate Spade up to 75% off”…of course I was intrigued. Much to my surprise, it directed me to katespade.com and NOT a knock-off, “designer-inspired” website. I never knew Kate Spade had a SALE section on her website. Typically I shop Amazon for discount Kate Spade, however the website has “newer” seasonal selections at a REALLY GOOD DISCOUNT. Check it out.

For as far as the eye can see….books :) I love walking into an old book store and smelling history. The old, musty smell of books that have been passed through dozens of hand, that have been cried on and thrown against a wall. Some people say it’s gross, but I think it’s warm and inviting.

Although with technology being the way it is, and having bought myself a Nook a few years back, I no longer get to take these fun trips to book store. So, I decided to take an afternoon and wander through a little shop to flip through these almost-ancient relics to see what I could find that had to find a home on my bookshelf.

Flowers have arrived on my backyard bushes and I couldn’t be happier to see them and for what they represent- spring, renewal and warmer weather! Here’s what I’m looking forward to :

Iced Tea steeped in the sunshine
walks to the lake with my dogs
laying by the pool reading a book and getting sun on these pasty legs
buying our first grill
my husband cooking me dinner on our first grill
sandals!
sundresses
lunching outside

So happy, after complainig all winter about the cold I am even more appreciative than ever to have Soring here.

I was shopping today at Nordstrom with my mother and came across this beautiful wallet and fell in love. The picture does not do it justice. It is the most unique, girly, rich wallet I have ever seen. I don’t usually get excited about wallets, but this one I practically ran people over to get a closer look at. The leather is soft like butter and the wallet is so stunning I would never put it in my purse, I would carry it like a clutch for date night. At $170.00 I wouldn’t be able to go out so for now I will share it with you.

I recently made a list of 30 Thing to do Before I Turn 30. While looking it over, realizing that I had a long way to go and I better get started, I came to the conclusion that I had already gotten started!

Number 25: Give something or someone a second chance.

Last week I got a notification from an animal rescue that I volunteer with that an animal was ill and needed to be fostered to be brought back to health. I didn’t give it a second thought, I immediately replied back and went to pick up the animal.

After less than one week, she back to full health and full of energy. She’s still a little thin but animals in my home don’t stay malnourished for long. Last night was the first night she actually ate an entire bowl of food and was begging for more! She is now available for adoption.

This won’t be the last time either…there will be many more “second chances” to come.